Call me back
Make an enquiry

Glaucoma is a condition affecting a persons sight, which if untreated can lead to visual loss. It is usually caused by the build up of intraocular pressure (IOP) within the eye. Treatment includes eye drops, tablets, laser treatment, or surgery, depending on your particular circumstances and preferences.

Glaucoma Treatment Plan

Although we know eye pressure is not the only cause of glaucoma, at present our only way to halt any further glaucoma damage is by controlling the pressure. All the different treatment options in principle work in 2 ways: by decreasing the production of aqueous fluid, or by increasing its outflow in order to lower the eye pressure. Treatment options range from medication such as eye drops and tablets, to laser treatment and surgery.

Our glaucoma specialist, Sally Ameen, will consult with you on your best treatment option based on your circumstances, such as the type of glaucoma you have, how severe it is and your own preferences.

For the ongoing management of glaucoma, we offer a £950 annual care package, covering one year of unlimited consultations and diagnostics. Contact us today to find out more.

Topical treatment for Glaucoma

There are a number of different topical medications (drops) available to help control the eye pressure and this, in most cases, tends to be the first line of treatment. They are available in both preserved (one bottle) or preservative free (single use containers) formats and vary in the number of times per day they need to be used. Most of the drops are very safe to use with minimal if any systemic or eye side effects but we will discuss which drop would be most suitable for you at your consultation. These are some of the options available:

Prostaglandin analogues

These have minimal systemic side effects and are recommended as a first line topical treatment. The drops are taken once a day at night time. Ocular side effects can include redness, itching, loss of fat tissue, change of iris colour, and inflammation of the eye

Beta blockers

These drops can be taken once (in the morning) or twice per day depending on the concentration of the drug. They have minimal ocular side effects. They do however have a number of systemic side effects. These include breathing difficulties, especially in patients with underlying lung issues, reducing blood pressure and heart rate, sleep disturbance and reduced libido

Sympathomimetics

These can induce a hypersensitivity allergic reaction in the eye, which means the side effect is only apparent after some time of using the drops

Carbic Anhydrase inhibitors

They can cause some eye discomfort. Systemically, patients have reported altered taste and some breathing difficulties

Miotics

These drops can cause blurring of the vision and brow ache as well as headache and reduced eye pressure

How to use eye drops for glaucoma

The various types of drops you might be prescribed will need to be taken in different ways and at different frequencies. Your consultant will let you know how to take each type, and you can use our free dropAdrop app to remind you via a push notification on your phone when you should apply them.

Glaucoma Oral Medication

Oral medication mainly includes carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. The medication is usually reserved for severe cases and for short term as long term it can affect both the liver and kidneys. The dose varies depending on how high the eye pressure is. Usually a tablet is given 2 or 3 times per day. It lowers eye pressure by dehydrating the eye but as it is taken systemically, it will cause dehydration of the whole body. The patient is advised to drink plenty of fluids and as it can also lower potassium levels, advised to eat potassium rich food such as banana and avocado.

Laser treatment for glaucoma

Depending on the type of glaucoma you are diagnosed with, there are a number of laser treatment modalities that can be used to lower intraocular pressure.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty

For open angle glaucoma, in some patients it might be worthwhile to consider Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) to control the eye pressure. SLT has been available for over 10 years and the recent LIGHT trial published in the Lancet highlights its benefits. Patients are seen in a clinic setting and achieve the desired intra-ocular pressure reduction without the need for ongoing drops in 75-80% cases. The effects of SLT can last up to 5 years and the treatment can be repeated if needed. Any side effects of the treatment are minimal and very rare.

Selective laser Trabeculoplasty is an outpatient procedure and performed using a machine very similar to the examination slit lamp. Topical anaesthesia and drops to reduce eye pressure are instilled into the eye prior to the treatment. A small special contact lens is then placed on the eye with a coupling agent (usually a jelly-like sterile lubricant such as viscotears) to keep the eye open during the duration of the treatment and help focus the laser. The treatment usually takes 10-15 minutes per eye and both eyes can be treated in the same setting. After the treatment is complete, the vision can be blurred (usually no more than 24 hours). You will be given anti-inflammatory drops to use for one week after the laser and then a clinic appointment 3-4 weeks later is arranged to check if the laser has been successful. Side effects of the laser include failure (25%), transient blurring of the vision, and on-going inflammation (1%). The effects of SLT do not last indefinitely and on average will need to be repeated after 2-3 years.

Laser Peripheral Iridotomy

For closed-angle glaucoma, we would recommend laser peripheral iridotomy as a treatment option. This is also a good option for people who don’t wish to have clear lens extraction.

A YAG laser is essentially used to make a 50-100 micron hole in the iris (the coloured part of the eye) to create a new channel for the fluid to pass through. This opens up the drainage angle and hence lowers the eye pressure. This is an outpatient procedure and is performed using a machine very similar to the examination slit lamp. Topical anaesthesia and drops to reduce eye pressure are instilled into the eye prior to the treatment. A small special contact lens is then placed on the eye with a coupling agent (usually a jelly-like sterile lubricant such as viscotears) to keep the eye open during the duration of the treatment and help focus the laser.

The treatment usually takes 10-15 minutes per eye and both eyes can be treated in the same setting. After the treatment is complete, the vision can be blurred usually for no more than 24 hours and the eye can look slightly red. You will be given steroid drops to take for 1 week after the laser and will be booked into a clinic appointment 3-4 weeks later to check if the laser has been successful. The success rate of the laser is over 95%.

At the time of the treatment, you may feel some discomfort and some blurring but these symptoms usually subside within 24 hours.

During your consultation, you will be informed of the possible side effects of the laser. Although side effects are very rare, they include failure (5%); a spike in the eye pressure that then requires further treatment (1%); ongoing inflammation, and visual disturbance due to light going through the laser hole (1:200 cases).

For both types of glaucoma, laser to the ciliary body can be used to lower the eye pressure by reducing the amount of production of fluid. The laser can be delivered externally to the eye or internally using 2 different laser modalities.

Other Laser Treatments

Cyclodiode laser

For patients where other types of treatment haven’t been successful, cyclodiode laser treatment can be used to help control fluid production (aqueous humour) which then reduces the pressure within the eye. Cyclodiode laser treatment can also be useful for patients with painful symptoms in non-seeing eyes, and usually will remove the pain completely and also remove the need for eye drops.

The treatment is usually performed as a day case under local anesthetic. A laser sends pulses of energy through the eye to the ciliary body, which then reduces the fluid production.

Micropulse Diode Laser Trabeculoplasty (MDLT):

This is one of the newer forms of laser to the ciliary body. It involves the interrupted application of short diode laser pulses to the Trabecular Meshwork (TM) – the area of spongy tissue that drains the fluid from the eye. Microseconds interrupt the continuous wave and so it prevents build up of thermal energy and this makes the laser generally more comfortable. Much like SLT, the reduction in pressure is achieved by increasing the outflow of fluid through the eye, as opposed to reducing the fluid production.

The laser is performed in the operating theatre, under local anesthesia. It takes 10-15 minutes to complete the treatment and the patient will be given a combination of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops to take for 2 weeks. The effects of the laser are normally detected at the first clinic appointment, which is usually at 1-2 weeks. Side effects include discomfort during the procedure, and inflammation (red painful eye) afterwards but both these are mild and resolve within a day or two after the laser.

eye-icon

If you have any questions around glaucoma surgery or our service, please feel free to make an enquiry or call us on 0203 369 2020

Make an enquiry

Surgical treatment for glaucoma

Clear lens extraction

This is essentially the same surgical procedure as a standard cataract operation but done primarily to open the drainage angle. Taking the natural lens out and replacing it with a slim line intraocular lens, hence curing primary angle closure, will permanently open the angle. The treatment is successful 95% of the time. Side effects include post-operative inflammation, failure, and intra-operative complications that may mean a second operation. The risk of blindness is 1:2000 and is usually due to an infection after the surgery. The new intraocular lens does have a refractive power, which means it can correct for any glasses prescription the patient was already wearing.

Goniosychiolysis

This refers to direct visualisation of the drainage angle in the operating theatre. It can be done as a stand alone procedure or usually combined with cataract surgery. It is recommended in patients with angle closure. The procedure involves making a small incision in the cornea (2mm in size) and placing a special lens onto the eye in order to assess the angle. If there is any evidence of the angle being closed (i.e. the iris is blocking the drainage pathway), this can be mechanically broken. The procedure usually takes 10-15 minutes and the patient is discharged home on topical antibiotics and steroid drops. Follow up is normally at one week where we assess if the treatment has been successful in permanently opening the drainage angle.

Insertion of istent inject

The istent is a titanium implant and is considered to be the smallest implant that can be placed in the human body. The stent has recently undergone modification and re-named as the istent G2 inject (the previous version was known as the G1). The insertion of the istent is done in the operating theatre, through a small corneal wound. The injector has 2 istents pre-loaded and both are placed directly into the drainage angle at the same time. This stent is both FDA and NICE approved and has been in wide use worldwide for many years. It is very safe and an effective method to lower eye pressure in patients with mild open angle glaucoma. It can be done as a standalone procedure or in combination with cataract surgery.

Trabeculectomy

Trabeculectomy achieves pressure reduction in the eye by creating a new outflow for fluid to drain out through the eye. A small hole is made in the eye, which is then covered by a small trap-door to control the flow of fluid. The fluid drains to a small reservoir called a bleb, which is hidden from view below the eyelid – and is rarely felt by patients after surgery.

The procedure is successful in 95% of cases, and as with other glaucoma treatments can halt the worsening of eyesight, but cannot restore it.

Tube surgery

This involves the insertion of a plastic tube inside the anterior chamber of the eye to create a new outflow pathway for the aqueous fluid and so lower the eye pressure. The surgery can take up to 2 hours and will require general anaesthesia. There are 2 different designs of the tube implant: the valved (ahmed tube) and non valved (Baerveldt). Lower eye pressure can be achieved by the non-valved but that also means there is a slightly higher chance of the pressure dropping too low (hypotony). Success rate is 95% and it carries essentially the same risks as a trabeculectomy. It is used in cases where a trabeculectomy has failed or sometimes as first line filtration surgery if it is considered to be the better option.

How much does it cost?

OCT, Visual Fields, Pachymetry
Glaucoma Investigations

  • Initial consultation
Total Cost
£500
(or £200 if performed individually)
Indicative Finance From
n/a
See finance options Get a quote

One Year of Glaucoma Care*
Glaucoma Investigations

  • *This package covers one year of unlimited glaucoma follow up consultations and diagnostics required to monitor and control eye pressure (surgery and drops not included)
Total Cost
£950
Indicative Finance From
n/a
See finance options Get a quote

Glaucoma Treatments

  • Surgery
  • Follow-up appointments
Total Cost
£3000 - £4500
*depending on the complexity of treatment
Indicative Finance From
£56
From £56 for 60months 0% APR
See finance options Get a quote

SLT Laser or Iridotomy Laser
Glaucoma Treatments

  • Surgery
  • Follow-up appointments
Total Cost
£650 (one eye)
£950 (both eyes)
Indicative Finance From
n/a
See finance options Get a quote

Glaucoma treatment FAQs

Below you can find out the answers to some of the most common questions our expert surgeon, Ms Sally Ameen is asked about glaucoma treatment.

1

What is the best treatment for glaucoma?

This depends on a number of factors: the type of glaucoma, the degree of the disease, and patient preferences. Normally, we would start with the least invasive option. In most cases, drops are very effective. In some types of glaucoma (mainly open angle), a laser treatment called Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) can be an option to control eye pressure without the use of drops.

 

For some patients, drops or laser are not an option because of drop intolerance or in-effectivity; that is when surgery is considered. There are a number of surgical procedures to control glaucoma and each one has its pros and cons and different surgical options would be suited to different patients.

 

The treatment of glaucoma is tailormade and personal to each patient. It is best to have a very informed discussion with your ophthalmologist and together decide on the best treatment option for you.

2

Is laser surgery for glaucoma painful?

There are a number of laser treatment options depending on the type of glaucoma and the severity of the disease:

 

Laser peripheral iridotomy (PI): this is for patients with narrow angle glaucoma. The laser is performed with topical anaesthesia. You can experience slight discomfort but it is not painful.

 

Selective Laser trabeculoplasty (SLT): this is for open angle glaucoma patients. Again performed under topical anaesthesia and is essentially pain free.

 

Diode laser (transscleral or micropulse): performed usually for those with advanced glaucoma. You would need an anaesthetic block to numb the eye fully as this can be uncomfortable and is usually performed in the operating theatre.

3

What to expect after glaucoma surgery?

The different types of glaucoma surgery vary in complexity and recovery period:

 

Laser surgery: some of these are carried out in the outpatient clinic and the recovery is very quick, and some in the operating theatres which take slightly longer. The vision is slightly blurred following any of these procedures and usually improves in 24 hours. There can be some discomfort in the eye but this usually subsides within 24-48 hours. Your surgeon would advise you to refrain from strenuous activities for 24 hours.

 

Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS): these are tiny implants places inside the eye to help control the eye pressure, for example an iStent implant. The recovery is very quick (within 24 hours normally).

 

Filtration surgery: these are bigger operations that take longer (1 hour) and the recovery of the vision can take 1-2 weeks. The patient should avoid any strenuous exercise for 2-4 weeks. There are many regular visits and intensive steroid and antibiotic drops. After 4-6 weeks, the eye usually settles down and then the drop intensity is reduced, as is the number of post-op visits. Once the surgeon is happy, you will be given the all clear to resume daily activities.

4

How does cataract surgery affect glaucoma?

In some cases, cataract surgery can be a treatment for glaucoma. This is specific for patients with narrow/closed angle glaucoma. For those with open angle, cataract surgery is known to temporarily lower the eye pressure but when combined with a MIGS, it can again be offered as a treatment option for patients with mild to moderate disease who have both cataract and glaucoma.

5

Can I drive after laser surgery for glaucoma?

Not immediately. The vision is normally temporarily blurred after the laser procedure. You will be advised not to drive for up to 24 hours from when the procedure is performed.

6

Can glaucoma be cured after laser treatment?

Laser treatment is an option to treat glaucoma and halt the disease progression. It does not reverse any existing damage sustained from the glaucoma. Different laser modalities are suitable for different types of glaucoma. Your consultant will discuss what type of glaucoma you have and what laser treatment option is the most suitable.

What makes our glaucoma treatment unique?

1

Convenient consultation and treatment

Sally Ameen is part of OCL Vision, a group of elite eye surgeons offering consultation, treatment and surgery onsite in one place. Choose from our central London location (close to Harley Street), or our clinic in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

2

Yearly glaucoma care package

Our annual care package costs £950 and covers one year of unlimited glaucoma consultations and diagnostics required to monitor eye pressure.*

*Surgery and drops are not included in this price.

3

Up to date with the latest surgical & medical innovations

The most common surgery type performed by Sally Ameen is MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery). This group of operations has been pioneered to reduce the chance of complications following surgery, and is ever-evolving. available.

4

Personalised care for each patient

Sally Ameen recognises the importance of each patient’s individual journey, and the tailored care they require. She will always do everything in her power to save her patients’ sight, using her expert knowledge and surgical skills.

If you would like to learn more or discuss glaucoma treatment options, contact us on 0203 369 2020 or through our contact us form.

Contact us

Last updated on November 23rd, 2023 by Ms Sally Ameen